McIlroy: 'Doesn't get better than this'

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Northern Irish golfer triumphs by same margin as his U.S. Open victory last year

Unheralded Englishman David Lynn claims second place in only his second major

Tiger Woods ties for 11th as his four-year wait for a 15th major title continues

Rory McIlroy stormed to his second major title on Sunday as he won the PGA Championship by eight shots at Kiawah Island in South Carolina and returned to the top of the world golf rankings.

The Northern Irishman played 27 holes after coming back to the Ocean Course early to complete his third round, after which he had built a three-shot lead.

And, in similar fashion to his eight-shot victory at last year's U.S. Open, the 23-year-old showed no nerves as he bounced back after struggling in the season's first three majors. He has won his two majors at a younger age than Tiger Woods did.

It was the biggest winning margin since the tournament changed to a strokeplay format in 1958, eclipsing Jack Nicklaus' seven-shot victory 32 years ago.

McIlroy broke the streak of 16 different winners in the past 16 majors as he followed his third-round 67 with a six-under-par 66, becoming the first player from his country to win the event.

2012 PGA Championship: The best photos – Rory McIlroy kisses his prize after winning the 94th PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina on Sunday, August 12. See how the action unfolded here.

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Photos:2012 PGA Championship: The best photos

2012 PGA Championship: The best photos – Carl Pettersson digs in during the final round.

He found a water hazard and was then ruled to have illegally moved a leaf while making the stroke, and again finished with a par round.

Woods must continue his four-year wait for a 15th major title after finishing tied for 11th, closing with 74 and 72.

The American ended on 286 in a group including British Open runner-up Adam Scott of Australia, Masters champion Bubba Watson, 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and fellow former major winners Geoff Ogilvy and Ben Curtis.

Former PGA champions John Daly and Padraig Harrington were tied for 19th, while previous world No. 1 Luke Donald was equal 32nd.

Veteran Vijay Singh could not keep up his strong form of the first half of the tournament as the 49-year-old Fijian closed with 77 to tie for 36th along with 1995 winner Phil Mickelson 36th alongside Woods' 2009 conqueror Y.E. Yang of South Korea.

British Open champion Ernie Els tied for 48th after his second successive 73.